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“Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

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Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#421

Post by abainbridge »

rlpb wrote: post #366
kuschku wrote: post #237

Earlier quoted context omitted.

The EU regulation on this was already passed several years ago, and is already enforced in some countries, it should be universally enforced by the end of the year.

Any chance of a reference here please? I've been unable to find the law (in my case the UK, but an EU regulation reference would help) which enacts this, and I'm dealing with a dispute at the moment where this would be helpful.

I can't find anything about the EU implementing this. Here is a UK document from July 2021 discussing why the UK might want to do it, and thus implying that it hadn't yet - https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/...

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#422

Post by daenz »

aristophenes wrote: post #316

I had to cancel my gym membership because I was moving, and it required me to send a physical letter. I did this, but found out later that somehow I owed like 2 dollars, so they didn’t count my cancellation request because my account wasn’t up to date (should be illegal). They continued to bill me the entire membership fee, but my credit card had changed, so they sent my account to a collections agency. Right when I…

>so they sent my account to a collections agency

Important clarification: they sold your account to a collections agency. They made more than what you actually owed them by doing that, which is probably why they did that.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#423

Post by wonderwonder »

wrycoder wrote: post #330
foobarbecue wrote: post #304

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I have wanted to cancel WSJ for over a year now but their process kept me from doing it. I started a few times and then was like I really don't have time for this nonsense right now. I wonder if I do it now if I can get my subscription fees refunded.

You have to be firm and terse. They try to drag you into a sales dialog and offer a much lower rate. Tell them, “I don’t want to discuss why I’m canceling, and I’m not interested in continuing, regardless of your rate.” Just keep repeating that.

Now that I think about it I think they did try and convince me to not cancel but I have become so disassociated from human niceties since I started working from home the last few years I just interrupted them and told them to stop and I wanted to cancel. Kind of worrying that I did it without thinking or realizing. Might be time for me to reintegrate with society.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#424

Post by toomuchtodo »

wil421 wrote: post #381
iandinwoodie wrote: post #339

Earlier quoted context omitted.

LA Fitness allows you to either mail in the cancellation form or submit it in person. I was also cancelling due to a move, so I printed out the form and trekked out to the nearest location for a final workout and the piece of mind that my cancellation was complete. Lo and behold, you cannot submit your cancellation form without a Manager present. Okay, when does the Manager arrive? _Usually_ around 9:00AM is the resp…

There was a class action lawsuit against LA Fitness about sending letters to cancel. I guess they finally allowed it to be done in person but had you jump through hoops to find a manager. They “lost” my letter a couple times until I sent it certified.

There's a business to be had in generating and mailing those letters certified for someone. For $10, you can have it printed and mailed by Lob certified and still have a few bucks margin, without the customer having to leave their home. They’d then have the certified tracking number to demonstrate it was delivered.

This should absolutely not be necessary, but is a shim until a regulator kicks gyms in the shorts over their predatory practices.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#425

Post by jhawk28 »

JTbane wrote: post #413
onionisafruit wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“What’s easier than making a quick phone call? It’s certainly easier than getting internet access, typing a url into a browser address bar, validating a ssl certificate, establishing an http session, authenticating with your credentials then finding and clicking the cancel button.”

This is the most tone-deaf thing I have read today. Logging in to a website is miles easier than waiting hours in a phone queue.

I think its pure sarcasm.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#426

Post by psyc »

JTbane wrote: post #413
onionisafruit wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“What’s easier than making a quick phone call? It’s certainly easier than getting internet access, typing a url into a browser address bar, validating a ssl certificate, establishing an http session, authenticating with your credentials then finding and clicking the cancel button.”

This is the most tone-deaf thing I have read today. Logging in to a website is miles easier than waiting hours in a phone queue.

The quotes indicate this is the subscription service playing dumb.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#427

Post by spiderice »

JTbane wrote: post #413
onionisafruit wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“What’s easier than making a quick phone call? It’s certainly easier than getting internet access, typing a url into a browser address bar, validating a ssl certificate, establishing an http session, authenticating with your credentials then finding and clicking the cancel button.”

This is the most tone-deaf thing I have read today. Logging in to a website is miles easier than waiting hours in a phone queue.

It’s pretty obviously sarcasm, and an example of what some ill-intentioned company could try and argue. Thus the quotes.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#428

Post by dfinninger »

JTbane wrote: post #413
onionisafruit wrote: post #223

Earlier quoted context omitted.

“What’s easier than making a quick phone call? It’s certainly easier than getting internet access, typing a url into a browser address bar, validating a ssl certificate, establishing an http session, authenticating with your credentials then finding and clicking the cancel button.”

This is the most tone-deaf thing I have read today. Logging in to a website is miles easier than waiting hours in a phone queue.

Given the quotes around the parent commenter’s text, I think they are mocking the absurd response of a fictitious company trying to argue that a phone call is easier than a button.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#429

Post by rogual »

jffry wrote: post #343
rogual wrote: post #22

I just expect these tactics from periodicals these days. Last time I signed up to one (The Economist) I used a pre-paid debit card for this very reason. Sure enough, they eventually gave me a reason to cancel (popup modals over their online articles for paying customers) and I just emptied the card and sent an email to their customer service saying "I hereby cancel my subscription; you are no longer authorized to cha…

Making them unable to easily collect money from you doesn't magically erase your contractual relationship. They probably still just canceled your account since it's paid up front and it'd be more hassle to try and collect on your debt.

Yep, if you've signed an agreement to remain a paying customer for a set duration and you pull this, they can send collections after you. In this case, I hadn't.

Re: “Click to subscribe, call to cancel” is illegal, FTC says

#430

Post by woah »

djrogers wrote: post #289
devilbunny wrote: post #268

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> speed traps that just trigger a red light Much better than what I've seen in my (US) city: speed limit 30 mph, but lights timed for 40-45 mph to get a continuous green light down the one-way street. Either you speed, opening you to tickets, or you stop needlessly on lights that are set for a faster speed than you are traveling.

Not sure where you are, but if that’s in fact the case, your city would be violating the law in at least California, and likely several other states.

Which law?
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